She and brother Justin went to trial in May; he was cleared of second-degree assault, while she was found guilty following more than nine hours of jury deliberation.

The woman was said to be in tears this morning as she was sentenced in Albany County Court.

“I’m really sorry for my poor judgment, you know, on Feb. 1 this year – the shame, the humiliation, the despair that this whole event has spurred is unparalleled,” Nisselbeck said, according to court transcripts. “It’s been a 172 days since the incident and not a day has gone by that I don’t reflect on it.”

DA David Soares put out a statement vehemently backing the police officers in the case.

“While it is unfortunate that a night of heavy drinking turned into a four-year prison sentence because Ms. Nisselback could not control her behavior, I hope the guilty verdict and sentence imposed today sends a crystal clear message that violence of any kind committed against members of law enforcement will not be tolerated,” Soares said in the statement.

“I will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals who place our officers in danger. In this case, the officers were not only victims of a physical attack but their reputations were maligned, and that is unacceptable.”

47 Responses

Wow, sounds like everyone knows everything that happened, since everyone is so quick to judge. I know the Nisslebacks personally, and everyone is making them out to be these hardened criminals. Let me tell you, they are far from it. Kids do stupid things, i.e. go out to a bar and get drunk. It happens. They’re not hellions for doing that.

Now, without knowing exactly what happened, here are my 2 cents.

#1 – The officer called the younger brother a gay slur. Now, as a gay man, that’s awfully disrespectful. Now you want them to show him respect? I don’t think so. And, as an older sibling, if someone is picking a fight with my younger brother, I’m gonna step in. I know, I know, the comments are gonna pour in “Doing his job is not picking a fight, blah blah blah.” Calling someone a faggot is.

#2 – Some people make it sound like the Albany Police Department is full of saints who deserve the utmost respect from everyone they encounter. I’ll tell you right now, there is no respect shown for the gay community, as you can see from my 1st point. Why should I be expected to show respect to someone who doesn’t respect me? Many a times I have been out at Oh-Bar, or Water Works, or Rocks, etc. etc., and the police are there harassing people for no reason. Don’t worry about the gay kids smoking a cigarette outside the bar, worry about the murders and drug dealing happening just a few blocks east.

#3 – 4 years is absolutely ridiculous for something so small as kicking someone in the groin. I think the officer may have needed the waaaa-mbulance, obviously he can’t take a little pain. How are you gonna protect a city with such a high crime rate? An ex-friend of mine (who I don’t talk to anymore for obvious reasons) fired a 12 gauge shotgun at a house’s propane tank, and got 6 months for that. Absolutely ridiculous.

There is so much corruption in our government that it makes me sick to even live here. I can’t wait to get OUTTT of NY!!

“I imagine that if, when you went to work, you were subject to constant harrassment, assault by out of control drunks, and constant exposure to the dregs of society, you also might end up being a little rude.”

Nonsense.

Cops are rude because they can be. It’s that simple. In all my years, the vast majority of police that I have come into contact with are rude and obnoxious idiots on a power trip. The only exception to that rule has been the State Police – they are always polite. I’m saying this WITHOUT being a criminal or a part of the dregs of society. I have a professional job, make a decent living, and was taught to treat everyone equally and respectfully. Sure, I may have gotten a speeding ticket here or there, but that is not where my experienced stem from.

Just look at the police all over the nation last week defending the bonehead that arrested the black professor for disorderly conduct. Was it necessary to arrest him? Of course not. He was arrested simply because the cop didn’t like how he was being spoken to. Right or wrong on the professors part on how he was speaking to the cop, there was no need for an arrest, as he was doing nothing illegal.

The funny part about this arrest as cops all over the country backed this cop up because, as one cop put it on national TV, “We don’t get paid to be verbally abused”. Well, nor do we taxpayers pay them to verbally abuse us. They tend to forget we, the public, are their employers. On top of this, people in many other jobs all over the place take verbal abuse all day every day. People in retail, or telephone marketing, collections, you name it get verbally abused on a daily basis MUCH worse than these jack booted thugs do. If people could be arrested for verbally vomiting at someone else, 3/4 of the country would be in jail at any one point in time. In other words, these idiots need to realize they the are not unique or special just because they have a badge. Apparently they forgot what their parents taught them – sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me…

In many cases, arrests are followed by COPS instigating a person. As a young person in Albany years back going out to Lark Street or the college bars, I can’t tell you how many times I have seen these idiots goading people. So when I say I believe that the Albany PD instigated this, it’s because I’ve seen it one too many times already.

Unfortunately, way to many people go into police work for the wrong reasons. They have big egos and little brains. The only departments that are successful on the public relations front are the ones that actively weed out these types. Sadly, many local and county departments don’t. The State Police are different because of better training, the requirement for a college degree, and because they generally weed these sorts out at the academy. Perfect example of a “bad cop” with an attitude problem – Bill Bonnani. This guy should have NEVER been given a badge or a gun. With his mentality, he shouldn’t have been entrusted with anything more dangerous than a broomstick.

Come on Maverick, well all know there are bad cops on police forces. Look at Schenectady with all the trouble the have had with theres. And I would be the first to say open up the hearings so we can all find out the truth. But to say all cops instigate the fights is just not right. These two clowns have been in situations numerous times. Read the other posts from people who know them personally and can attest to their behavior problems. I have 3 family members who are in law enforcement. They don’t have ego’s, nor big heads. They enjoy their job and are proud to serve the community. The big difference is they suffer the risk of not coming home to dinner at night because during the course of the day and their job, someone shot at them, kicked them, punched them, hurt them. Does that happen on your job? If it did chances are pretty good you’d be suing someone or the company. Cops can’t. Bill Bonnani is the bad apple of the group, and the law will catch up with him. At one time he was given a badge and gun becuase he proved himself, but something happened and he changed, and now he will pay the price. Police are here to protect, not to harass. Give them a break. The bad ones always surface and we deal with them. We know who they are, its not like they can hide. And the PBA is also seeing community support dwindle when they try to do so.

Go cry me a river. I can’t believe that you would justify someone assaulting another person because they called them a name. Big deal. If you’re feelings are getting hurt because someone called you a name, maybe you should live a life in seclusion.

Who cares if the police officer calls someone a “faggot”. Handle it like an adult. Call Internal Affairs. Report the incident to your local newspaper/newstation. Hold rallies discussing the alleged hate-laden comments and discrimination the APD has been displaying towards the gay community. Get out and get your voice heard.

“#3 – 4 years is absolutely ridiculous for something so small as kicking someone in the groin. I think the officer may have needed the waaaa-mbulance, obviously he can’t take a little pain.”

“I have 3 family members who are in law enforcement. They don’t have ego’s, nor big heads.” – sure, around you, a relative. I also have a relative who is a cop, and a very good friend that is a cop. I’ve heard plenty of stories from them as well. Regardless of how they are with me, that doesn’t change my opinion.

Am I saying all cops are bad CFoote? Not at all. But far too many of them are, and that’s the harsh realty. Until the “thin blue line” crap is broken, and the good ones finally stop protecting the bad ones simply because they are their “brothers” or whatnot, the shenanigans won’t end.

The both of you also need to get a grip on yourselves regarding the “crime” committed here. Had it not been a cop who was kicked in the groin, the charge most likely would have been harassment, if that. Besides that, males get kicked in the groin every day. It happens to us as children, and happens to us as adolescents, and it happens to adults. Most of the time they just shake it off. The way most cops are, they could get a paper cut from writing an appearance ticket and file an assault charge. Besides that, people committing much more serious crimes routinely get sentenced to less time in jail than this poor girl. An appropriate sentence would be probation.

Maverick100 – Either you’re just ignorant, you hate police officers, or both. I’m no police officer. But, I’m currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. Whether I choose to become a state trooper, or an attorney is yet to be decided. However, I can’t see what that has anything to do with my perception and opinions on Ms. Nisselbeck’s actions.

I won’t lie, I’ve been on the wrong side of the law a couple of times. And I’ve accepted responsibility for my actions ALL THE TIME. And I’ll be quite honest, none of the crimes I committed involved violence. Heck, none of them could even begin to compare to assaulting a police officer.

Ms. Nisselbeck felt it was necessary to assault a police officer because he called her brother a name. BFD. Do you know how many racist police officers I’ve encountered. Would it have been acceptable for me to assault a police officer because he called me a discriminatory name? No. I handled myself like a fair-minded adult, and addressed the situation with the proper venues.

Maverick, you really should get a grip on reality. Because you’re under the false impression that a majority of police officers are bad. I wonder if you apply that same perception to the men and women serving in the armed forces? There have been several vile acts committed by US soldiers. Should we now classify a majority of them as bad? Better yet, I’m sure Ms. Nisselbeck would be more than willing to display her lack of respect to authority figures. Throw a 6-pack at her, and pop some popcorn. I’m sure she won’t disappoint.

Maverick come on now. True not all cops are bad, but the bad ones always trip up and get caught misusing their authority. The power goes tho their heads and bingo they are done. Most are lucky they can get jobs as mall cops afterwards. Yes I am related to a police officer and I stand by position that she got off light. The was far from harassment. She assaulted the officer. Harassment involves speach not physical violence as she exhibited. The justice system is so screwry anyways in sentencing. And for a moment I’ll even take your side. Remember when former police chief Greg Kazmareck got a basic slap on the wrist (2 years) for his drug involvment and he was trafficking, and wife Lisa got 6 months, while two others got 6 years. Judge Drago should have given them ALL six years. My point is the law and punishment need to be enforced equally. Not 2 years because you are a cop and 6 because you are not. Danielle could have gotten 10 years, she got 4. Piddyly sentencing. Assault is assualt regardless of if your a cop or not. Maverick if she kicked you as well I’d ask for the same harsh penalty. At least 4 years maybe 8. We need judges to enforce these penalities and start showing the criminal element and those who refuse to behave in society we mean business!

This women sentence is a crime in itself. If I was the victim of a groin kick by anyone at anytime I would certainly not want them put in prison, and certainly not for years of their life. Foolishness, and shame on the jury.

Premedicated acts of testicluar abuse are the among the most cowardly, destructive crimes on the planet. A severe blow to the testes can cause a great deal of damage: the Leydig cells can sustain irreparable damage, thus decreasing its victims ability to produce testosterone by 95%; the testes may not be able to produce sperm if they’re damaged; psychological issues such as post traumatic stress disorder, depression and social anxiety are linked to testicular abuse, and; it is fatal when it causes neurogenic shock.

Therefore, I think this woman ought to be grateful that she is only serving four years in prison. I believe she should be castrated, kicked in the vulva a few times by the police officer she assaulted, then executed by the state.

She is a violent sexual offender. He could have loose a testicle, or become impotent (less likelly). She is having an easy time. She should go into the sexual offender registry. How is worse touching a person in the genitals than hitting him or her? Both are sexual assault just that one is more violent that the other.

Oh boo-hoo-hoo, the poor officer. #45 is absolutely correct, it’s all about teaching the little ladies a lesson about going up against the all-powerful male of the species, this moron judge included. I think all cops should be kicked in the groin regularly as part of their training, thus hopefully lowering their testosterone production as #42 whines about. Maybe then there would be fewer testosterone-fueled police chases and shootouts that result in the deaths of innocent motorists and pedestrians.